Riviera Travel Is Launching the First-Ever River Cruise Ship Just for Solo Travelers in 2027

Solo cruising keeps getting bigger, but this move still stands out.

Riviera Travel says MS George Eliot will begin sailing exclusively for solo travelers in April 2027, and it’s calling it the first river cruise ship of its kind.

Riviera Travel’s MS George Eliot sailing along a calm European river, showing the full exterior of the ship with open sun deck and countryside in the background.

For the full 2027 season, the ship will run Europe sailings exclusively for solo guests. Cabins will be assigned to one person only, and Riviera says travelers won’t be hit with a single supplement.

It marks a major step forward for the line’s solo travel program, which has been growing as more people choose to travel on their own.

According to Riviera, the ship has been built around the solo travel experience, giving guests their own space while also creating onboard areas that make it easier to socialize.

Five adults standing together on a cruise ship deck at sunset, smiling and holding drinks while socializing with the ocean in the background.

Guests will have a double cabin to themselves, a higher crew-to-guest ratio than on Riviera’s standard river ships, and selected shore excursions led by experienced Tour Managers. MS George Eliot has 70 cabins and 36 crew, and Riviera says each of those cabins will be assigned to just one traveler during its solo-only 2027 season.

With fewer passengers onboard, Riviera says there should be more room around the ship too, along with shorter waits at mealtimes.

Its debut sailing, “Spring in the Netherlands: Amsterdam & the Tulips,” is already fully booked.

Solo Sailings Across Europe

After that first departure, MS George Eliot will spend the rest of the 2027 season sailing a mix of itineraries on some of Europe’s best-known rivers.

The schedule includes several departures of The Blue Danube River Cruise for Solo Travelers from June through October, plus sailings on Cruise the Heart of Europe: Journey Along the Rhine, Main and Danube, Rhine Cruise to Switzerland, Rhine and Moselle River Cruise, and a handful of festive December trips.

Top deck of Riviera Travel’s MS George Eliot with a small round plunge pool, lounge chairs, mini golf area, and open river views under a clear blue sky.

Christmas and New Year trips are part of the lineup too, including Danube Christmas market cruises, a Christmas on the Danube sailing, and a New Year cruise leaving on December 30, 2027.

Linda Harris, Solos Product Manager at Riviera Travel, said the new ship shows how seriously the line is taking the solo travel market.

“We are so excited that from April 2027 the George Eliot will become the world’s first solo-exclusive river cruise ship. This really shows our dedication to solo travellers and will allow us to offer a much larger choice of dates with solo river cruises operating all season.”

Why This Matters for Solo Cruisers

The launch reflects the continued rise of solo travel, with more cruise lines trying to make life easier for passengers sailing alone.

a lady with a white hat standing on the deck of a cruise ship, looking out to sea.

Other cruise lines have also been paying more attention to solo travelers. Cunard, Holland America Line, and MSC Cruises all offer options aimed at guests sailing alone, whether that means dedicated solo cabins, solo-friendly events, or more single-occupancy rooms. But ships reserved entirely for solo guests are still very unusual.

By giving every cabin to one traveler and running a full season only for solo passengers, Riviera is carving out something genuinely different in the river cruise market.

Across the 2027 season, the itineraries will call in countries including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, with lengths ranging from five nights up to 15 days.

Fares begin at £1,949 per guest for shorter festive cruises, while the 15-day Heart of Europe itinerary is currently priced from £5,899.